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Massive breakaway in the Rio Grande Valley to get urgent NWA attention

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Minister Daryl Vaz and Shawn Smith, Senior Engineer at the NWA
 
A massive breakaway at Isleworth in the Rio Grande Valley near Berrydale in Portland is to receive immediate attention from the National Works Agency (NWA).
 
The land has broken about two hundred feet from the road into the Rio Grande River.
 
The breakaway, which occurred during the recent heavy rains, worsened on the weekend.
 
It has taken a section of the rail and left cracks in the road threatening the lives and livelihood of residents.
 
The area was toured by a team from the National Works Agency, Member of Parliament for Portland Eastern Dr. Lynvale Bloomfield, and Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Daryl Vaz on Tuesday.
 
Mr. Vaz said due to the danger posed, drivers of trucks will be advised whether they can continue using the road.
 
He said a surveyor should have come to the area on Wednesday with the hope that within two weeks there will be a design as well as an estimate ready. 
 
He said the areas most affected by the recent weather conditions, those "posing serious danger to life" or hindering livlihood, will be prioritised. 
 
"We would not want a situation where the road is impassable and therefore the tour buses and the residents would not be able to access the district of Berrydale," he reasoned. 
 
Shawn Smith, Senior Engineer at the NWA, said in the interim, the entity will be building a barricade at the site of the breakaway at Isleworth to keep motorists from driving on the side of the road that is compromised. 
 
He said another breakaway which occurred at Grants Level during last week's heavy rains will be addressed in the medium to long term.
 


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